Naive QQ about timetrialling...are courses loops?
ajmitchell
Posts: 203
Hi
I am a beginner and thinking of timetrialling but am put off by the incredible speeds I read. Can I ask are the circuits all loops (beginning and ending at the same spot) thus negating the effect of wind and elevation as much as possible.....or do they start and end at diff points meaning course conditions will dramatically effect the times? In the former case at least you know the times are largely comparable across courses etc. thanks alex.
I am a beginner and thinking of timetrialling but am put off by the incredible speeds I read. Can I ask are the circuits all loops (beginning and ending at the same spot) thus negating the effect of wind and elevation as much as possible.....or do they start and end at diff points meaning course conditions will dramatically effect the times? In the former case at least you know the times are largely comparable across courses etc. thanks alex.
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Hi
I am a beginner and thinking of timetrialling but am put off by the incredible speeds I read. Can I ask are the circuits all loops (beginning and ending at the same spot) thus negating the effect of wind and elevation as much as possible.....or do they start and end at diff points meaning course conditions will dramatically effect the times? In the former case at least you know the times are largely comparable across courses etc. thanks alex.
Some may be loops, some are just out & back - but usually starting/finishing at the same/similar point.
Don't be put off by the speeds. The only speed that matters in a TT is your own.0 -
Most '10' courses are out and back, most '25' courses are loops.
They tend to finish near the start for logistical reasons.Insta: ATEnduranceCoaching
ABCC Cycling Coach0 -
That's interesting - after 17 years in the sport I tend to think that the development of specialist equipment, the increasing knowledge about aerodynamics and the increases in speed are making the sport seem more and more elitist - and off-putting to newcomers. You've just added more evidence to support my view.Hi
I am a beginner and thinking of timetrialling but am put off by the incredible speeds I read.
There are rules which state that courses must have starts and finishes within a certain distance of each other - to try to mitigate the effects of wind and elevation.Can I ask are the circuits all loops (beginning and ending at the same spot) thus negating the effect of wind and elevation as much as possible.....or do they start and end at diff points meaning course conditions will dramatically effect the times?
Erm, actually nothing could be further from the truth despite the regulation about the start/finish points. Courses are not even remotely comparable - the road surfaces, elevataion, single/dual carriageway, amount of traffic all make an enormous difference - such that it's actually a nonsense to make any comparison of any kind between performances on different courses. Unfortunately most people in the time trialling community are happy to overlook this fact and continue to make exactly such nonsense comparisons.In the former case at least you know the times are largely comparable across courses etc. thanks alex.
Ruth0 -
This sets out the maximum distance allowed bewtween the start and finish of TT run under Cycling Time Trials (CTT).
'The straight line distance between start and finish of a course must not exceed the following: 10 & 15 mile courses: 1½ miles 25, 30 & 50 mile courses: 2½ miles 100 mile courses: 5 miles 12 & 24 hour courses: 25 miles'
Regarding the fast speeds, yes at the top but there is a wide range. Selected this result as it was the first one in a list. Fasted ride 29 mph, the slowest less than 17 mph. Find a club time trial have a go and you probably won't be slowest.
http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/event/6790 -
Most '10' courses are out and back, most '25' courses are loops.
They tend to finish near the start for logistical reasons.
Depends on the district. I can't think of one 25 course that's a loop in our area.0
